The Spectacular Now Review

Oh, to be a teen again----Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller as a surprisingly fitting couple in The Spectacular Now

                                 It's fitting that the new coming of age drama/comedy is called The Spectacular Now. Why is this? Well...it's because this is the third coming of age film this year and all three of them have been spectacular. This one, however, may top the list. The Way Way Back may have to move over as my f and The Kings Of Summer may have to move out of my top 15 because this is a truly phenomenal film. Every second of this film rings absolutely true---from the dialect of the characters to the tough parent-child relationships. There is not a false note in the entire film.

   

                                 The film stars Miles Teller as Sutter....a nice guy who's also a party animal and somewhat of an alcoholic. When his girlfriend, Cassidy (Brie Larson) dumps him...he finds himself in the biggest slump of his life. He is born anew, however when he meets Aimee (Shailene Woodley)....a. sweet, completely harmless young woman who goes to the same high school as him. Sutter and Aimee hit it off and start dating much to the surprise of Sutter's friends and the chagrin of Aimee's friends.

                                   Teller and Woodley are both phenomenal here. Teller makes Sutter into a nice, caring guy who is trying to improve for Aimee but can't seem to while Woodley makes Aimee a sweet, compassionate young woman but never does so unrealistically. Their chemistry is the best I've seen all year and gives the whole film an authentic vibe. It's as if the audience is watching these people talk up close and personal. 

                                   As I said before...the film also rings true in every aspect. Every scene evokes a part of high school that we've all been through. There's even a great scene in which Cassidy's new boyfriend asks Sutter what's going on between them. What happens in this scene could have easily felt very unrealistic but as done by director James Ponsoldt (Smashed) and writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H Weber (500 Days Of Summer)...even that scene rang completely true. 

                                    All in one fell swoop....the film manages to be funny, touching, sad, realistic, incredibly well acted, expertly directed, sharply written and magical among other things. Please---if you can only see one film this year...make it The Spectacular Now.

(5 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated R for alcohol use, language and some sexuality---all involving teens)